Tomball's Bruce Hillegeist Wins Prestigious Marvin Hurley Award

EL PASO, TX — One of the most famous, influential, and beloved people in Tomball was honored recently with a special award in El Paso. Bruce Hillegeist, who has been the face of the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce for a quarter-century was presented with the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives’ Marvin Hurley Award.

"I'm just really overwhelmed," the always humble Hillegeist told Patch. "I just cannot believe how much God has blessed me. I am thankful and overwhelmed at the same time."

Hillegeist, a fifth generation Texan and life-long Tomball resident, was presented the award by RaDonna Hessel, who leads the chamber of commerce in Grapevine, and who won the award last year.

"To be recognized by my peers, especially those who have been my mentors and my "go to" friends who keep me out of trouble was a tremendous surprise. And to have the honor this year, to be a part of recognizing someone else is such a pleasure," Hessel said during her presentation remarks.

The Marvin Hurley Award is named after Marvin Hurley, CCE, who was the former CEO of the Houston Chamber from 1951-1966. Marvin Hurley was considered to be one of the most influential Chamber of Commerce leaders in the state of Texas. The award is presented each year to an individual for chamber-related career accomplishments and exceptional contributions to the Chamber of Commerce profession as a whole.

Although the award is named for a man who represented Houston, no one representing a Houston chamber of commerce has won the award since the program began in 1976.

However, there have been a few chamber executives from Houston area communities that have won the award including Hollis McGinnis, who won the award in 1978 as head of the Alvin Chamber of Commerce; Tracey S. Wheeler, President of the Baytown Chamber of Commerce, who won the award in 1994, and Stew Darsey, who was president of the Conroe Chamber of Commerce when he won the award in 2008.

Hillegeist considers everyone who has ever won the Marvin Hurley award living legends, but he will never claim the title for himself. That's jut now how Hillegeist does things.

"This is an award for the Tomball Chamber," Hillegeist said. "I accepted it, but it's all for one and one for all. This is really all about Tomball."

Tomball, which has a population of just over 12,000 residents, is located about 28 miles north of downtown Houston, and is home to the annual German Heritage Festival and the future home of the Texas Railroad Museum.

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